Re:Why Netflix Chose Amazon’s Cloud as Their Computing Platform
by ars on Tuesday December 14, 2010 @08:08PM
(#2006556)
I think you mean a higher PUE.
Anyway, a better PUE will certainly help your carbon footprint, but saying "using hydro/cleaner power" is meaningless.
You don't get to pick and choose "I'm using hydro, you're using coal" - the power grid is interconnected - everyone is using everything.
Additionally all the possible hydro that can be used already is, so it's not like you can individually promote hydro usage - if you "use" hydro power, all the happens is that someone else doesn't get to use it, which means effectively you are burning coal, but remotely.
There are some slight benefits to using the power near where it's generated to avoid transmission losses, but it's not large.
Unless you can say "because of me there is a new, cleaner, power station that is built" you are not using cleaner power, you are just shifting less clean power to someone else.
Anyway, a better PUE will certainly help your carbon footprint, but saying "using hydro/cleaner power" is meaningless.
You don't get to pick and choose "I'm using hydro, you're using coal" - the power grid is interconnected - everyone is using everything.
Additionally all the possible hydro that can be used already is, so it's not like you can individually promote hydro usage - if you "use" hydro power, all the happens is that someone else doesn't get to use it, which means effectively you are burning coal, but remotely.
There are some slight benefits to using the power near where it's generated to avoid transmission losses, but it's not large.
Unless you can say "because of me there is a new, cleaner, power station that is built" you are not using cleaner power, you are just shifting less clean power to someone else.